Champions League
Nov 23, 2016 7.45pm
0
2
HT : 0 1
FT
  • Erik Sviatchenko 23' yellowcard
  • Mikael Lustig 71' yellowcard
  • Stuart Armstrong 87' yellowcard
  • goal Lionel Messi 24'
  • yellowcard Jordi Alba 42'
  • goal Lionel Messi 55'
  • yellowcard Sergi Roberto 63'
  • yellowcard Neymar 71'
  • yellowcard Ivan Rakitic 89'

Brendan Rodgers urges Celtic not to show Barcelona "too much respect"

Rodgers: 'We showed Barca too much respect'

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that his team showed Barcelona "too much respect" when they suffered a mauling at Camp Nou in their Champions League clash in September.

The Scottish giants welcome Luis Enrique and his team, including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, to Glasgow this week as they go head to head again in Group C.

Celtic were thumped 7-0 in Spain, with Rodgers's former Liverpool player Suarez netting twice, but the Northern Irishman is hoping for a different result on Wednesday night.

"We clearly showed them too much respect on the field," Rodgers told reporters. "There were many different aspects of the game we learned from, showing that courage to get on the ball, having that bravery, having respect for the opponent but not necessarily within the game.

"The players have shown they've learned from it; we're playing than at home, so it's a real good measure and our mentality will change.

"The players have shown from that game that they've changed. It will be a tough game for us, of course, against top-class team with arguably the best front three you could say has played for Barcelona, but I would hope it would be a different performance from us."

Celtic are yet to win a group game having lost two and drawn two, which has sent them to the bottom of the standings, five points off a qualification place.

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